Author Knutsen helped develop strike weapons at the US Navy's airborne weapons establishment at China Lake, CA. Here, he uses nontechnical language and simplified b&w diagrams to explain the role of strike weapons and strike warfare in modern military operations. The book is intended for general readers, students, news media, and legislators; a college degree or military background is not required. In the first section, the author explains the US military's capacity for strike warfare, from planning through execution. The second section describes the entire life cycle of strike weaponry, from design criteria through production, deployment, and retirement. About 35 pages of appendices provide a glossary and info on design criteria and weapon names and characteristics. The book also lists sources of additional information, including government and non-government web sites, books, and publications limited to the US government and associated contractors. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)